Shortly before we had kids my husband decided that we should use his medical payment plan at work for eye surgery. Not for him but for me. The idea of not having to wear eyeglasses anymore was like a dream but my practical self wasn’t sure I wanted to spend so much on myself when our older home still needed a lot of updates. In addition, my husband wears glasses (still does) and I felt a little guilty being the only one to get eye surgery, although his eyes weren’t as bad as my own.
At the time I was considered legally blind without my prescription glasses. I really couldn’t see much of anything that wasn’t right up to my face. I couldn’t even read the “E” on the eye chart, except that I knew it was a big “E”. Sad, right? So with the push of my husband I decided to take the plunge.
When I had my initial consultation I discovered that I didn’t quality for LASIK because of the thickness (or lackthereof) of my cornea so I’d have to go with a different process known as PRK. PRK is eye surgery like LASIK but instead of creating a flap that allows for quicker healing, they literally remove the first layer. Ouch, right? Not only would I need to have PRK, it would also have to be custom (which cost an additional $500 PER EYE) because of the severity of my nearsightedness. I wanted to ditch my glasses but I did hesitate because of the additional expensive and longer healing time than I originally anticipated.
I’m not sorry I had PRK. While the pain I experienced while healing was excruciating (I was rarer part of the population that has longer and more painful healing process), the results have been fabulous. I’m so happy to not to deal with glasses and contacts. While it has become less expensive to purchase now that you can buy contacts and glasses online, the convenience benefits outweigh anything else. The surgery was very expensive so I’m glad I did it before kids or I know I never would have.
Have you gotten eye surgery or are you contemplating it? What finally made you do it or what is holding you back?
This post was brought to you by glassesusa.com. The opinions and experiences shared are 100% my own and not influenced in any way.
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Mrs. Claus says
I had the same problem with the degree of nearsightedness and thickness of my corneas. The PRK WAS, hands down, the worst pain I had ever experienced. (And I gave birth to 4 children naturally!)
When they took the contact lens “band-aid” off it was excruciating!!
I had the added expense of having to drive an hour to Shreveport to have mine done (one eye at a time) which meant 2 hotel stays on 2 different weekends, which boosted the overall cost of my procedure, but it was totally worth it in the long run.
http://likechristmaseverysingleday.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-you-blind.html
But when they told me I might have to have two follow-up procedures to “tweak” the results, even though the procedures would be free, I said, “No thank you! You know I’m good.” It was THAT painful.
Mrs. Claus says
. . .sorry, what finally convinced me to do it? Jealousy! My husband had LASIK and could see and I still couldn’t. I hated that! It made me so self-conscious and uncomfortable that I couldn’t wait any longer. (This is kinda personal, but when we would go to bed, I still couldn’t see a thing and he could see me clear as day! Yikes! I couldn’t even see the expression on his face.) Too much pressure. LOL!!
Emilie says
My husband and I were just talking about this the other day. What is the most pain we have ever been in? I said hands down PRK. He said, even over labor or the car accident? I said YES!!! Worst pain I can even imagine was the day after my PRK surgery. I couldn’t go to work for 5 days. The first two or three I couldn’t even open my eyes. Everything was so bright and it hurt so much. It was horrible.
Do I regret it? No, because the pain was still temporary. Would I go through it again? Heck no! That was awful. I’d heard that some people were back to work a day or two after PRK. I was like, are they crazy? I guess what we experienced happens in like 1 of 6 patients, usually women. It actually made me angry though that they didn’t prepare me for that possibility. I thought I’d be fine after a day or two. No way! There was no escaping the pain and not being able to open my eyes was horrendous.
Anyway, I totally understand. Thanks so much for sharing because I know I’m not the only one!
Mrs. Claus says
LOL! I know, right? I would get back to our hotel room and I would tell my husband and kids to get out of the bed, because as soon as I take this PAIN PILL I’m outta here. I had some wonderful pain meds, I don’t even remember the name, but they put me out pretty quick.
I wasn’t back to work in a couple of days either. It took an extra day in the hotel and going back to the clinic for checkups before I even got to go home. Procedure on Friday morning,and then not back to work until Wednesday morning. That’s about right.
Laura Etherton says
My husband got Lasik last December and he is so happy he did. My eyes are not bad enough to need glasses yet but I would consider getting Lasik if they were. It was costing him 200+ a year for glasses contacts and exam.
Plus add in contact solution, cases and extra glasses due to breakage etc. We figured the cost would equal out over the span of his life plus with the Lasik there is no hassle of missing work for eye appointments or headaches b/c of weak Prescriptions due to eye change.
Eileen says
I used to work for a laser vision correction center. It was SO rewarding to see patients lives so COMPLETELY transformed. I am lucky I have never needed glasses, nor anyone in my family, so I have NO idea what it really would be like.
We did minimal PRK procedures but I did see some cases. It did sound very painful for many people, BUT like you said, it is a few days out of your life and then you see your life in a whole new light! I was able to assist in the procedure/laser room and in Post op. Most of the Lasik cases have IMMEDIATE results and people are actually brought to tears (which we had to remind them is not a good thing to do…but hey…it is SO exciting to see across a room to a loved one waiting, when for 15, 25 or more years they could not see a foot in front of them!)
One thing to remember ALWAYS is to “shop” for a good doc, as there are some WAY more experienced than others.
SO happy for you! It is such a wonderful gift to yourselves and no one should ever feel guilty for spending money that will allow you to see the world! Literally!
Tabitha says
I’m having Visian ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses) in two weeks. I’m a -16.75 with severe astigmatism.
I’m having it because my eye dr. told me if I wear contacts any longer I will damage my corneas because my eyes can’t get oxygen. And I would have to have a cornea transplant before I was 30. Pretty good reason, huh? :]
Tabitha says
Just wanted to drop in and say hi again. I had my surgery a week ago and it’s amazing! I’m not 20/20, but we knew I wouldn’t be. I went from a -16.75 to a -1.75!! And that could get even better as my eyes heal!